Juan Campbell, 28, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the death of Malachi Patterson last May. Authorities said Campbell put his hands over the boy's mouth to stop him from crying and smothered him.

"At this point in time, I just have to leave it in God's hands and let him do his own justice," Patterson's mother, Jamie Campbell, told Channel 4 Action News. "I feel that taking somebody else's life isn't going to bring back my own son, but again, I told my husband that justice does need to be served."

Indiana County District Attorney Patrick Dougherty said the defense is asking the judge for a 10-to 20-year sentence. The legal maximum is up to 40 years.

"There's no perfect solution," Dougherty told Action News' Bob Mayo. "We're never going to be able to bring the child back. So whether he gets 10 to 20, 20 to 40, yes it may make us feel somewhat better, but ultimately it's not going to bring the child back."

Juan Campbell is scheduled for sentencing April 11. The boy's mother and family are expected to give victim impact statements.

"I don't know that you ever have closure when you lose a child. I think this is something that's going to be ongoing for these folks, and it's a tragedy," said Dougherty.

TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. LIVE AT ALLEGHENY POLICE HEADQUARTERS, MARCIE CIPRIANI, CHANNEL 4 NEWS A GUILTY PLEA FROM A MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A YOUNG CHILD. THAT VICTIM'S MOTHER SPEAKS OUT ABOUT LOSING HER SON, KNOWING SHE WILL NEVER SEE OR HOLD HIM AGAIN. BOB MAYO WAS THE ONLY LOCAL REPORTER IN THAT COURTROOM. HE HAS THE STORY FROM INDIANA COUNTY. Reporter: THIS IS A PLEA AGREEMENT AND THIS INDIANA COUNTY MAN ADMITTED BEFORE THE JUDGE THAT HE KILLED HIS TODDLER'S STEPSON. IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL TIME IN THE COURTROOM FOR THE MOTHER OF THAT CHILD. SHE SPOKE WITH US ABOUT IT. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I JUST HAVE TO LEAVE IT IN GOD'S HANDS AND LET HIM DO HIS OWN JUSTICE. JAMIE CAMPBELL WAS THE MOTHER OF 22-MONTH-OLD MALACHY PATTERSON. THE TODDLER WAS KILLED BY HIS STEPFATHER, 28-YEAR-OLD JUAN CAMPBELL, WHO HAS NOW PLEADED GUILTY TO THIRD-DEGREE MURDER. IT HAPPENED LAST MAY WHEN THE STEPFATHER COVERED THE CHILD'S FACE TO STOP HIM FROM CRYING AND SUFFOCATED HIM. I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING BACK MY OWN SON BUT I TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT JUSTICE DOES NEED TO BE SERVED. Reporter: INDIANA COUNTY D.A. SAYS THE DEFENSE IS ASKING THE JUDGE FOR A 10-20 YEAR SENTENCE. THE LEGAL MAXIMUM IS UP TO 40 YEARS. THERE IS NO PERFECT SOLUTION, BOB. WE ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE CHILD BACK. WHETHER HE GETS 10-20, 20-40, IT WILL MAKE US FEEL SOMEWHAT BETTER BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO BRING THE CHILD BACK. AS FOR MALACHY'S MOM, SHE SAYS SHE IS -- SHOCKED. EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO FAST. I'M PROCESSING A LOT. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT NUMBERS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD THAT I'M NOT SO SURE OF. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU EVER HAVE CLOSURE WHEN YOU LOSE A CHILD. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S ONGOING FOR THESE FOLKS. IT IS A TRAGEDY. Reporter: THE MOTHER AND